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.calc-container { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; background: #fff; padding: 2rem; border-radius: 12px; box-shadow: 0 4px 6px -1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1), 0 2px 4px -1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06); border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; }
.input-group { margin-bottom: 1.5rem; }
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.input-field { width: 100%; padding: 0.75rem; border: 1px solid #d1d5db; border-radius: 6px; font-size: 1rem; transition: border-color 0.2s; }
.input-field:focus { outline: none; border-color: #2563eb; ring: 2px solid #93c5fd; }
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.calc-btn:hover { background-color: #1d4ed8; }
.result-box { margin-top: 2rem; padding: 1.5rem; background-color: #f3f4f6; border-radius: 8px; border-left: 5px solid #2563eb; }
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function calculateTempRate() {
// 1. Get Input Values
var targetSalary = parseFloat(document.getElementById('targetSalary').value);
var hoursPerWeek = parseFloat(document.getElementById('hoursPerWeek').value);
var weeksOff = parseFloat(document.getElementById('weeksOff').value);
var overheadMarkup = parseFloat(document.getElementById('overheadMarkup').value);
// 2. Validate Inputs
if (isNaN(targetSalary) || targetSalary < 0) targetSalary = 0;
if (isNaN(hoursPerWeek) || hoursPerWeek <= 0) hoursPerWeek = 40;
if (isNaN(weeksOff) || weeksOff < 0) weeksOff = 0;
if (isNaN(overheadMarkup) || overheadMarkup < 0) overheadMarkup = 0;
// 3. Logic Calculation
// Total weeks in a year is 52. Work weeks = 52 – weeks off.
var workWeeks = 52 – weeksOff;
// Prevent division by zero if someone enters 52 weeks off
if (workWeeks Need $130k gross
var markupMultiplier = 1 + (overheadMarkup / 100);
var grossRevenueNeeded = targetSalary * markupMultiplier;
// Calculate Hourly Rate
var hourlyRate = grossRevenueNeeded / totalBillableHours;
// Calculate Weekly Estimate (Average based on billable weeks)
var weeklyIncome = hourlyRate * hoursPerWeek;
// 4. Update UI
document.getElementById('hourlyRateResult').innerText = formatCurrency(hourlyRate);
document.getElementById('billableHoursResult').innerText = formatNumber(totalBillableHours);
document.getElementById('grossRevenueResult').innerText = formatCurrency(grossRevenueNeeded);
document.getElementById('weeklyResult').innerText = formatCurrency(weeklyIncome);
document.getElementById('resultsArea').style.display = 'block';
}
function formatCurrency(num) {
return '$' + num.toFixed(2).replace(/\d(?=(\d{3})+\.)/g, '$&,');
}
function formatNumber(num) {
return num.toFixed(0).replace(/\d(?=(\d{3})+$)/g, '$&,');
}
Understanding Your Temp Hourly Rate
Calculating the correct hourly rate for temporary or contract work is significantly more complex than simply dividing an annual salary by 2,080 (the standard number of work hours in a year). As a temporary worker or independent contractor, you assume financial responsibilities typically covered by an employer.
Why Is the Temp Rate Higher?
If you are transitioning from a full-time salaried role to a temporary contract, you might notice that hourly contractors charge significantly more than the hourly equivalent of a salary. This markup exists to cover the "hidden costs" of employment:
- Self-Employment Taxes: In many jurisdictions, contractors must pay the employer's portion of social security and medicare taxes, effectively doubling their tax burden compared to employees.
- Unpaid Time Off: Salaried employees get paid vacations, holidays, and sick leave. Contractors only earn money when they are working. If you take 2 weeks of vacation and 1 week of sick time, that is 3 weeks of zero income.
- Health Insurance & Benefits: Temporary workers often do not receive health, dental, or vision insurance, nor do they get 401(k) matches. Your hourly rate must be high enough to purchase these privately.
- Job Instability: Temporary roles end. A higher rate helps build a savings buffer for the downtime between contracts.
The Calculation Formula
This calculator uses a "Reverse Salary" method adjusted for overhead. The logic follows these steps:
- Determine Base Salary: The net amount you want to earn annually (pre-tax, but before expenses).
- Calculate Workable Weeks: We subtract vacation, holidays, and potential sick days from 52 weeks.
- Apply Overhead Markup: We multiply your base salary by an overhead percentage (typically 25-30%) to account for taxes and benefits.
- Divide by Billable Hours: The total gross revenue goal is divided by the actual number of hours you will be billing clients.
Example Scenario
Imagine you want to earn a $80,000 equivalent salary. You plan to take 4 weeks off per year (vacation + holidays). You work 40 hours a week. You need a 30% markup to cover health insurance and taxes.
Step 1: Workable Weeks = 52 – 4 = 48 weeks.
Step 2: Total Billable Hours = 48 * 40 = 1,920 hours.
Step 3: Gross Revenue Goal = $80,000 * 1.30 = $104,000.
Step 4: Hourly Rate = $104,000 / 1,920 = $54.17/hr.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a standard overhead markup percentage?
For most freelancers and temporary workers in the US, 25% to 30% is a standard baseline. This covers the extra ~7.65% self-employment tax, health insurance premiums, and a small buffer for business expenses. If you have high equipment costs or need expensive liability insurance, you should increase this to 40-50%.
Should I charge per hour or per day?
This depends on your industry. IT consultants and creative freelancers often charge hourly to account for scope creep. However, management consultants often charge a "Daily Rate" (Day Rate) to simplify billing. To get a daily rate, simply multiply the hourly result from this calculator by your daily hours (usually 8).
Does this calculator account for income tax?
The "Target Annual Salary" input should be your desired gross salary before income tax, just like a standard job offer. The overhead markup is strictly for the extra costs contractors face (benefits/employer taxes). You will still owe standard income tax on the final amount.